Anthony Komaroff, MD – Harvard Health Bloghttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog
Harvard Health Blog: You’ll find posts from Harvard Medical School physicians and our editors on a variety of health news and issues.Tue, 28 Apr 2020 21:02:44 +0000en-US
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102120Harvard Health Blog: You’ll find posts from Harvard Medical School physicians and our editors on a variety of health news and issues.Chronic fatigue syndrome: Gradually figuring out what’s wronghttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-gradually-figuring-out-whats-wrong-2019111418224
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/chronic-fatigue-syndrome-gradually-figuring-out-whats-wrong-2019111418224#commentsThu, 14 Nov 2019 15:30:37 +0000https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=18224In the 1980s, there was no official definition of what is now known as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). But since then, more than 9,000 studies have advanced the understanding of this condition and its effects on people.

In 1983, a health professional in her 30s walked into my office and said, “I’ve been healthy all of my life. A year ago, I came down with some kind of virus — sore throat, aching muscles, swollen lymph glands, fever. My fatigue was so bad I was in bed for nearly a week. Many of the symptoms gradually improved, but the terrible fatigue and difficulty thinking have not gotten better. They’re so bad I can’t fulfill my responsibilities at home or at work. This illness is affecting my brain, stealing my energy, and affecting my immune system. It’s keeping me from realizing my dreams.”

There’s a piece of advice attributed to a famous physician, William Osler, that every medical student probably has heard: “Listen to your patient. The patient is telling you the diagnosis.” But I wasn’t sure it applied in this case.

What we knew then

First of all, the textbooks of medicine didn’t describe an illness like this. In addition, all the usual laboratory tests to screen for various diseases came back normal. At this point, a doctor has two choices: decide to believe the patient and keep searching to find what is wrong, or to tell the patient, “There is nothing wrong.” Indeed, some doctors seeing people like my patient did just that, adding insult to injury.

Fortunately, many physicians and biomedical scientists around the world became interested in this illness, and over 9,000 scientific studies have been published in the past 35 years. The Institute of Medicine has concluded that the condition, now called myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) “is a serious, chronic, complex systemic disease that often can profoundly affect the lives of patients.” It affects up to 2.5 million people in the United States, and generates direct and indirect expenses of approximately $17 to $24 billion annually.

What we know now

As I discussed in a recent article in the journal JAMA, research has documented underlying biological abnormalities involving many organ systems in people with ME/CFS, compared with healthy controls. Here’s an overview of what the current science suggests.

The brain. Tests of brain hormones, formal tests of thinking, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography (PET) scans of the brain are abnormal in a substantial fraction of patients with ME/CFS. Tests of the autonomic nervous system, which controls vital functions including body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and movement of the intestines and bladder, also are abnormal. Not all of these abnormalities of the brain are present in every person with ME/CFS, and they appear to come and go.

Energy metabolism. We are alive because the cells of our body are alive. And they’re alive because they can make energy, and use that energy to do their jobs and remain alive. Our cells make energy out of the oxygen in the air we breathe, and out of the sugars, fats, and proteins we eat. In ME/CFS, research has shown that the cells have trouble both making and using energy. That is, people with ME/CFS feel they don’t have enough energy because their cells are not making enough, nor using what they make efficiently. The ability of cells to extract oxygen from the blood and use it to make energy appears particularly defective after physical and mental exertion.

Immune system. The immune system is complicated, containing many different kinds of cells that make many different kinds of chemical signals to talk to each other. Hundreds of studies have found evidence that in people with ME/CFS, the immune system is chronically activated, as if it is fighting something, and that parts of the immune system are exhausted by the fight.

Activation of “hunkering-down” systems. Animals, including humans, have systems to protect them during times of major threats. For example, worms and bears that are faced with a shortage of food “hunker down”: they activate systems that focus the energy they are able to make on the processes necessary to stay alive. Nonessential, energy-requiring activities are minimized. Humans who are seriously injured or sick also activate various hunkering-down systems. Some evidence suggests that in ME/CFS the hunkering-down systems may have been turned on, and remain inappropriately stuck. Research teams are trying to figure out how to turn off the hunkering-down systems.

Continued research should lead to better understanding and treatments

A great deal more is known about ME/CFS today than 35 years ago. With continued and expanded support from the NIH, CDC, and private foundations dedicated to ME/CFS, I expect a lot of progress in the coming decade. Instead of doctors saying, “The tests came back normal, there is nothing wrong,” they will say, “Tests showed us what was wrong, and we have treatments to fix it.”

And doctors will recognize the wisdom of the wise advice we all learned in medical school: “Listen to your patient. The patient is telling you the diagnosis.”

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-books-win-awards-201406237231/feed37231https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fharvard-health-books-win-awards-201406237231]]>Harvard Health Ad Watch: When marketing puts your health at riskhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-when-marketing-puts-your-health-at-risk-2020010818633https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/06/AMWA.jpg2014-06-23 12:16:122014-06-23 16:16:12Harvard Health Ad Watch: A fibromyalgia treatment (“But you look so good!”)https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-a-fibromyalgia-treatment-but-you-look-so-good-2019112218358https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/06/AMWA.jpg2014-06-23 12:16:122014-06-23 16:16:12Harvard Health Ad Watch: What you should know about direct-to-consumer adshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-what-you-should-know-about-direct-to-consumer-ads-2019092017848https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/06/AMWA.jpg2014-06-23 12:16:122014-06-23 16:16:12Harvard Health Ad Watch: A new treatment for knee arthritishttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-a-new-treatment-for-knee-arthritis-2019101518015https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/06/AMWA.jpg2014-06-23 12:16:122014-06-23 16:16:12Harvard Health Ad Watch: Are nutritional drinks actually good for you?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-are-nutritional-drinks-actually-good-for-you-2020032019204https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/06/AMWA.jpg2014-06-23 12:16:122014-06-23 16:16:12https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/06/AMWA.jpgNot quite a threat yet, but MERS merits watchinghttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/quite-threat-yet-mers-merits-watching-201405147146
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/quite-threat-yet-mers-merits-watching-201405147146#commentsWed, 14 May 2014 20:23:54 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=7146In 2012, after the CDC declared SARS presented a threat to the public’s health and safety, public health and infectious disease experts took note of a new viral respiratory disease that was also caused by a coronavirus, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). So far, roughly one-third of the people with confirmed cases of MERS have died. Until recently, most cases of MERS occurred in countries in the Arabian Peninsula. But this month, two cases of MERS have been confirmed in the United States. At the most recent meeting of WHO’s Emergency Committee members expressed growing concern about MERS, but since there is currently “no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission” the situation doesn't yet meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

It has been over 10 years since the respiratory illness called severe acute respiratory syndrome (better known as SARS) first appeared in southern China and Hong Kong. Caused by a type of virus called a coronavirus, SARS spread to two dozen countries, including several in North America, South America, and Europe, eventually killing more than 700 people. There have been no known cases of SARS since 2004. But this virus moved quickly enough and was serious enough that in 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention declared that it presented a severe threat to public health and safety.

That same year, public health and infectious disease experts took note of a new viral respiratory disease that was also caused by a coronavirus, though different from the one that causes SARS. The first cases of this illness occurred in Saudi Arabia, so it was named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome—MERS or MERS-CoV (for coronavirus). Symptoms of MERS include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. So far, roughly one-third of the people with confirmed cases of MERS have died.

Until recently, most cases of MERS occurred in countries in the Arabian Peninsula. But this month, two cases of MERS have been confirmed in the United States. Both of the people with MERS had traveled to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia. One is fully recovered and the other, a health care provider who had traveled from Saudi Arabia, is doing well.

As of now, it appears that the MERS virus doesn’t spread easily from person to person. It is most likely to go from someone who has MERS to someone who lives with or cares for them. The CDC, which is following MERS along with other public health organizations, does not believe that MERS poses a serious health threat at this time. However, as we “go to press,” there are reports that two health care workers who cared for one of the MERS patients have developed flu-like symptoms. Neither one has a confirmed case of MERS yet, but test results are still pending. Tracking the spread of MERS is critical because it is possible that the virus may start to spread more easily between humans.

At the most recent meeting of the World Health Organization’s Emergency Committee on MERS-CoV, members expressed growing concern about the effect of MERS on public health. However, because there is currently “no evidence of sustained human-to-human transmission,” the situation doesn’t yet meet the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

Health care officials are reaching out to anyone who may have had close contact with anyone with a confirmed case of MERS, including family members and even folks who may have had close contact during airline flights. The goal is to encourage those individuals to watch for symptoms and consider seeing their doctors.

The sudden emergence of novel, or even well-known, infectious diseases across the globe is not new. There has been a recent outbreak of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in Guinea and Liberia. Polio is making an appearance in Syria, Cameroon, Kenya, and other countries. What is fairly new is that the world has become much smaller in the past 60 years. International travel is common, fast, and relatively easy—and viruses can be hardy tourists.

What should you do? First, outbreak or not, follow common sense precautions. Wash your hands regularly, be mindful when you are around someone who is sick, and minimize close contact as best you can (for example, don’t share utensils or drinking glasses). If you are sick, do the same—and cough into your elbow, wash your hands often, and use disposable tissues when sneezing or blowing your nose. Second, if you have recently traveled and start to feel ill, see your doctor promptly. Finally, if you are planning to travel, check out the CDC website for lots of good advice, including guidance on potential health risks such as infectious diseases.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/quite-threat-yet-mers-merits-watching-201405147146/feed57146https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fquite-threat-yet-mers-merits-watching-201405147146]]>C. difficile (C. diff): An urgent threathttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/c-difficile-c-diff-an-urgent-threat-2020022018862https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/05/MERS_corona_virus.jpg2014-05-14 16:23:542014-05-14 20:23:54Can watching sports be bad for your health?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-watching-sports-be-bad-for-your-health-2019011115751https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/05/MERS_corona_virus.jpg2014-05-14 16:23:542014-05-14 20:23:54Naloxone: An important tool, but not the solution to the opioid crisishttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/naloxone-tool-not-solution-opioid-crisis-2017113012800https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/05/MERS_corona_virus.jpg2014-05-14 16:23:542014-05-14 20:23:54Eating breakfast won’t help you lose weight, but skipping it might not eitherhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/eating-breakfast-wont-help-you-lose-weight-but-skipping-might-not-either-2019041916457https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/05/MERS_corona_virus.jpg2014-05-14 16:23:542014-05-14 20:23:54Lifestyle change: “I know what to do, I just need to do it…but how?”https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/lifestyle-change-i-know-what-to-do-i-just-need-to-do-itbut-how-2017062311880https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/05/MERS_corona_virus.jpg2014-05-14 16:23:542014-05-14 20:23:54https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/05/MERS_corona_virus.jpgCeremonies, remembrances mark one-year anniversary of Boston Marathon bombinghttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ceremonies-remembrances-mark-one-year-anniversary-boston-marathon-bombing-201404157115
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ceremonies-remembrances-mark-one-year-anniversary-boston-marathon-bombing-201404157115#commentsTue, 15 Apr 2014 17:55:46 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=7115One year ago today, the detonation of two improvised bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people, injured more than 260 others, and shattered a day traditionally filled with joy and camaraderie. Although the bombing immediately extinguished the celebration, it sparked an outpouring of extraordinary work and compassion that continues to this day. Residents of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and beyond rallied to help those injured by the bombs. It is a testament to the extraordinary care and preparation by first responders and staff members at all Boston-area hospitals that only three people died. Many of the wounded were taken to teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard Medical School. The medical school and its institutions take time today to mourn this senseless tragedy, pray for those who lost a loved one or who themselves still bear physical and emotional scars from the bombing, and acknowledge the work of first responders, emergency department staff, and others who have been part of the healing effort.

One year ago today, the detonation of two improvised bombs near the finish line of the Boston Marathon killed three people, injured more than 260 others, and shattered a day traditionally filled with joy and camaraderie. Although the bombing immediately extinguished the celebration, it sparked an outpouring of extraordinary work and compassion that continues to this day.

Residents of Boston, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and beyond rallied to help those injured by the bombs. It is a testament to the extraordinary care and preparation by first responders and staff members at all Boston-area hospitals that only three people died.

Many of the wounded were taken to teaching hospitals affiliated with Harvard Medical School: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston Children’s Hospital. Physicians at Mass Eye and Ear helped those suffering from serious blast injuries. During the following weeks and months, clinicians at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and McLean Hospital helped others recover. (Many of these institutions are marking the anniversary with a variety of events.)

“Not one single person transported to our hospitals on the day of the bombings died,” said Dr. Jeffrey Flier, Dean of Harvard Medical School, in open letter to the HMS community. “Hundreds of hospital personnel, including some third-year HMS students who are graduating this year, responded in droves, doing what the medical profession has always been called upon to do—helping and healing, relieving suffering and saving lives. They followed their impulse to serve, to comfort and to heal.”

In his book Code Blue: The Making of an Emergency Physician, Dr. Michael J. VanRooyen, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and an emergency department physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, wrote about the day of the bombing and its aftermath. You can read his account here.

For a different perspective, John Hockenberry, host of the NPR Radio show The Takeaway, looks at how Boston has recovered from the bombing. He says that a recent report about the emergency response to the explosions at last year’s marathon finish line found that the city of Boston “showed strength, resilience, and even defiance in the wake of the attack.”

One year after this senseless tragedy, the healing continues. Our hearts and prayers go out to those who lost a loved one or who themselves still bear physical and emotional scars from April 15, 2013.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ceremonies-remembrances-mark-one-year-anniversary-boston-marathon-bombing-201404157115/feed57115https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fceremonies-remembrances-mark-one-year-anniversary-boston-marathon-bombing-201404157115]]>Answer these 5 questions to help make your New Year’s resolutions stickhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/answer-these-5-questions-to-help-make-your-new-years-resolutions-stick-2017122012940https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/04/Boston-Marathon.jpg2014-04-15 13:55:462014-04-15 17:55:463 New Year’s resolutions all families can (and should) makehttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/three-new-years-resolutions-all-families-can-and-should-make-2018010213007https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/04/Boston-Marathon.jpg2014-04-15 13:55:462014-04-15 17:55:46This year’s flu season: Public health catastrophe or par for the course?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/flu-season-public-health-catastrophe-2018020213207https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/04/Boston-Marathon.jpg2014-04-15 13:55:462014-04-15 17:55:46Why we all really need Screen-Free Week this yearhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/why-we-all-really-need-screen-free-week-this-year-2018050113752https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/04/Boston-Marathon.jpg2014-04-15 13:55:462014-04-15 17:55:46Preventing overdose deaths is not one-size-fits-allhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/preventing-overdose-deaths-is-not-one-size-fits-all-2017122212996https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/04/Boston-Marathon.jpg2014-04-15 13:55:462014-04-15 17:55:46https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/04/Boston-Marathon.jpgCVS to become first major U.S. pharmacy to stop selling cigaretteshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cvs-to-become-first-major-u-s-pharmacy-to-stop-selling-cigarettes-201402057019
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cvs-to-become-first-major-u-s-pharmacy-to-stop-selling-cigarettes-201402057019#commentsWed, 05 Feb 2014 19:52:27 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=7019Cigarettes, cigars, and the like are the most deadly product that consumers can legally buy. It's sadly ironic that they are sold in pharmacies, which are meant to dispense medications and other things designed to heal or promote health. The American Pharmacists Association, the American Medical Association, and other groups have urged pharmacies to stop selling cigarettes. Several major pharmacy chains have been mulling whether or not to take this advice. Today, one of them has acted. The CVS chain has decided to stop selling tobacco products, and will phase out their sales over the next year. The news came in a press release from CVS and an opinion piece published today in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association. Pharmacists will likely cheer the decision—one survey of pharmacists showed that only 2% of them favor the sale of tobacco products in their stores.

Cigarettes, cigars, and the like are the most deadly product that consumers can legally buy. Why they are sold in pharmacies, which are meant to dispense medications and other things designed to heal or promote health, has always been a mystery to me. I’m not alone. The American Pharmacists Association, the American Medical Association, and other groups have urged pharmacies to stop selling cigarettes.

Several major pharmacy chains have been mulling over whether they should take this advice. Today, one of them has acted. The CVS chain has decided to stop selling tobacco products, and will phase out their sales over the next year. The news came in a press release from CVS and an opinion piece published today in JAMA, the journal of the American Medical Association.

The authors of the article are Dr. Troyen Brennan, executive vice president and chief medical officer of CVS Caremark, and Dr. Steven A. Schroeder, director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California San Francisco. (Full disclosure: both have been close colleagues of mine for many years.)

A shrinking circle

Fifty years ago, when the Surgeon General issued his famous document summarizing the health risks of smoking, more than 40% of American adults smoked. It was okay to smoke anywhere and everywhere—in restaurants, grocery stores, airplanes, and even in hospitals. It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where I work, became one of the first hospitals to ban smoking inside its buildings.

Efforts to limit where people can smoke and buy cigarettes and other tobacco products has helped reduce the number of smokers to about 18% of adults in the United States. Increasing the cost through taxes has also put a dent in the number of smokers.

But we need to do more. There’s abundant evidence that making tobacco products hard to get reduces their rate of use. So I applaud CVS’s decision to stop selling tobacco products in its stores. With this public announcement from its chief medical officer, CVS is claiming the high ground. The company estimates that it takes in $1.5 billion a year from selling tobacco products, but “the financial gain is outweighed by the paradox in promoting health while contributing to tobacco-related deaths.”

Pharmacists will likely cheer the decision. According to Brennan and Schroeder, one survey of pharmacists showed that only 2% of them favor the sale of tobacco products in their stores.

It also makes sense as large chains begin to make themselves over as health care outlets, with in-store retail clinics. It has always been sadly ironic to see someone come to a drug store to get his or her medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, or pain from metastatic cancer—and then stop at checkout and get a pack of the substance that caused and continues to perpetuate those illnesses.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cvs-to-become-first-major-u-s-pharmacy-to-stop-selling-cigarettes-201402057019/feed137019https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fcvs-to-become-first-major-u-s-pharmacy-to-stop-selling-cigarettes-201402057019]]>Surrogacy: Who decides to become a gestational carrier?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/surrogacy-who-decides-to-become-a-gestational-carrier-2020030519052https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/01/Man-breaking-cigarette.jpg2014-02-05 14:52:272014-02-05 19:52:27Ketamine for major depression: New tool, new questionshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/ketamine-for-major-depression-new-tool-new-questions-2019052216673https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/01/Man-breaking-cigarette.jpg2014-02-05 14:52:272014-02-05 19:52:27Lowering nicotine in cigaretteshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/lowering-nicotine-in-cigarettes-2018041913662https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/01/Man-breaking-cigarette.jpg2014-02-05 14:52:272014-02-05 19:52:27What parents need to know — and do — about e-cigaretteshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-parents-need-to-know-and-do-about-e-cigarettes-2018040315272https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/01/Man-breaking-cigarette.jpg2014-02-05 14:52:272014-02-05 19:52:277 tips to help your child start school for the first timehttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/7-tips-to-help-your-child-start-school-for-the-first-time-2017081512202https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/01/Man-breaking-cigarette.jpg2014-02-05 14:52:272014-02-05 19:52:27https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2012/01/Man-breaking-cigarette.jpgSurgeon General’s 1964 report: making smoking historyhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/surgeon-generals-1964-report-making-smoking-history-201401106970
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/surgeon-generals-1964-report-making-smoking-history-201401106970#commentsFri, 10 Jan 2014 16:00:26 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=6970On a Saturday morning 50 years ago tomorrow, then Surgeon General Luther Terry made a bold announcement to a roomful of reporters: cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and probably heart disease, and the government should do something about it. Terry, himself a longtime smoker, spoke at a press conference unveiling Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee of the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. That press conference was held on a Saturday in part to minimize the report's effect on the stock market. The 1964 Surgeon General's report, and others that followed, have had a profoundly positive effect on the health of Americans, despite the tobacco industry's concerted and continuing efforts to promote smoking. By one new estimate, the decline in smoking triggered by the 1964 report and others that followed prevented more than 8 million premature deaths, half of them among people under age 65. But we still have a long way to go. Some 42 million Americans still smoke, and tobacco use accounts for millions of deaths each year around the world.

On a Saturday morning 50 years ago tomorrow, then Surgeon General Luther Terry made a bold announcement to a roomful of reporters: cigarette smoking causes lung cancer and probably heart disease, and the government should do something about it.

Terry, himself a longtime smoker, spoke at a press conference unveiling Smoking and Health: Report of the Advisory Committee of the Surgeon General of the Public Health Service. That press conference was held on a Saturday in part to minimize the report’s effect on the stock market. After all, in 1964 smoking was common, fashionable, and done everywhere. In the U.S., tobacco was an even bigger business than it is today.

I vividly remember hearing about the Surgeon General’s report on the CBS Evening News. At the time, I was a first-year medical student. Between two-thirds and three-quarters of my fellow students were smokers. By the time we graduated, only 10% remained smokers. The report was one big reason why.

The impact of the report was augmented by our experience dissecting cadavers. The lungs of non-smokers were pink. The lungs of heavy smokers were black. That didn’t look healthy, and the surgeon general confirmed that it wasn’t.

I also remember the impression the report had on my mother, who had been smoking for many years. She wasn’t wowed by the science or the weight of the evidence. Instead, she was impressed by the fact that America’s “top doctor” was advising her, and other others like her, to stop smoking. (She didn’t follow his advice right away, but eventually did.)

The 1964 Surgeon General’s report, and others that followed, have had a profound effect on the health of Americans, despite the tobacco industry’s concerted and continuing efforts to promote smoking. The percentage of Americans who smoke dropped from 42% in 1964 (the peak year for smoking) to 18% today. A new report in JAMA estimates that the decline in smoking prevented 8 million deaths since 1964, more than half of them among people under age 65.

But we still have a long way to go. Some 42 million Americans still smoke, although the majority want to quit. Each year, tobacco use accounts for nearly 500,000 deaths in the United States and 5 million deaths worldwide. And in the developing world, the last statistics I saw said that smoking is on the increase.

We continue to learn about the hazards of smoking and other forms of tobacco use. As CDC Director Thomas Frieden put it in a JAMA editorial, “Tobacco is, quite simply, in a league of its own in terms of the sheer numbers and varieties of ways it kills and maims people.” We also continue to learn about the addictive power of nicotine, and the difficulty of breaking an addiction to it.

The good news is that it’s possible to quit smoking. In the U.S. today, there are more former smokers than current smokers. Some people manage to quit on their own. Others are assisted by nicotine replacement coupled with some form of talk therapy. Stop-smoking medications such as varenicline (Chantix) or bupropion (Zyban) can also help.

I don’t recall hearing about any Surgeon General’s report before Dr. Terry’s 1964 report. In fact, I’m not sure at the time that I knew the U.S. had a Surgeon General. Since 1964, many Surgeon General’s reports have been issued, and many have received a lot of publicity. But probably no subsequent report has had as powerful an impact on the health of Americans.

I have many heroes. I don’t think you can overdo having heroes. Surgeon General Terry, and the epidemiological scientists who collected the evidence that he used, are near the top of my list. I’ll bet the eight million people who didn’t die young because of Dr. Terry’s message, and their loved ones, would agree.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/surgeon-generals-1964-report-making-smoking-history-201401106970/feed76970https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fsurgeon-generals-1964-report-making-smoking-history-201401106970]]>Expert advice on how to quit smokinghttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/advice-quitting-smoking-2018020813233https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/01/Doctor_promoting_cigarettes_ad.jpg2014-01-10 11:00:262014-01-10 16:00:26Can vaping help you quit smoking?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-vaping-help-you-quit-smoking-2019022716086https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/01/Doctor_promoting_cigarettes_ad.jpg2014-01-10 11:00:262014-01-10 16:00:26Could household disinfectants be making our children fat?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/could-household-disinfectants-be-making-our-children-fat-2018100314949https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/01/Doctor_promoting_cigarettes_ad.jpg2014-01-10 11:00:262014-01-10 16:00:26Aging and sleep: Making changes for brain healthhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/aging-and-sleep-making-changes-for-brain-health-2019031116147https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/01/Doctor_promoting_cigarettes_ad.jpg2014-01-10 11:00:262014-01-10 16:00:26When making summer plans for children, leave some time unplannedhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-making-summer-plans-for-children-leave-some-time-unplanned-2019061016893https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/01/Doctor_promoting_cigarettes_ad.jpg2014-01-10 11:00:262014-01-10 16:00:26https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2014/01/Doctor_promoting_cigarettes_ad.jpgDo “energy boosters” work?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-energy-boosters-work-201311156878
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-energy-boosters-work-201311156878#commentsFri, 15 Nov 2013 18:57:06 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=6878Stroll the aisles of any pharmacy or "health food" store and you'll see a multitude of herbs and other supplements that claim to boost energy. Yet there is little or no scientific evidence to support such claims for most of these substances. The fact is, the only thing that'll reliably boost your energy is caffeine or other stimulant—and their effects wear off within hours. Substances commonly touted as energy boosters include chromium picolinate, coenzyme Q10, creatine, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), ephedra, ginkgo biloba, ginseng, guarana, and vitamin B12. Instead of relying on a supplement for energy, try switching to a healthful diet—more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, lean protein, and unsaturated fats—and exercising more. That's truly a better way to beat an energy shortage, and it's one your whole body will appreciate.

Stroll the aisles of any pharmacy or “health food” store and you’ll see a multitude of herbs and other supplements that claim to boost energy. Soft drinks and so-called energy drinks include these products. Yet there is little or no scientific evidence to support the claims for most of these substances. The fact is, the only thing that’ll reliably boost your energy is caffeine or other stimulant—and their effects wear off within hours.

Here’s a look at some of the substances that are commonly touted as energy boosters.

Chromium picolinate. This trace mineral is widely marketed to build muscle, burn fat, and increase energy and athletic performance, but research has not supported these claims.

Coenzyme Q10. This enzyme is found in mitochondria, the energy factories of our cells. Coenzyme Q10 supplements have been shown to improve exercise capacity in people with heart disease, and may do the same in people with rare diseases that affect the mitochondria. In other cases, the effects are not clear. One small European study suggested that people with chronic fatigue syndrome might benefit from supplementation with coenzyme Q10, but more research is needed.

Creatine. The body makes own creatine; it is largely found in muscle. But it is widely sold as a supplement. There is some evidence that taking creatine can build muscle mass and improve athletic performance requiring short bursts of muscle activity (like sprinting). But there is little evidence it can do the same in older adults, or that it can reduce a feeling of fatigue in anyone.

DHEA. Sometimes marketed as a “fountain of youth,” dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is touted to boost energy as well as prevent cancer, heart disease, and infectious disease, among other things. The truth is that this naturally occurring hormone has no proven benefits and some potentially serious health risks. Some research shows that DHEA can damage the liver. It can also lower levels of beneficial HDL cholesterol. And because this hormone is related to estrogen and testosterone, there is concern that it may increase the risk for breast and prostate cancers. By increasing levels of testosterone, it can also encourage acne and facial hair growth in women. Until further research clarifies the side effects, it’s wise to avoid taking DHEA.

Ephedra. Although ephedra was banned by the FDA in 2004 because of major safety concerns, including increased risk of heart attack and stroke, it remains available for sale on the Internet. Any effectiveness that ephedra may have in terms of boosting energy probably results from two substances it contains—ephedrine and pseudoephedrine—which may increase alertness. There is no safe amount of ephedra you can consume. If you want to boost your energy by stimulating your central nervous system, a cup of coffee or another caffeinated beverage will work just as well.

Ginkgo biloba. Derived from the maidenhair tree, ginkgo biloba has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine and is now a common dietary supplement in Western countries. Its effects on cognition (thinking), mood, alertness, and memory have been the subject of many studies, but many of those studies have not been of high quality. A Cochrane Collaboration review found the evidence was too weak to conclude that ginkgo biloba improved cognition in people with Alzheimer’s disease. Regarding memory in people without dementia, the evidence is contradictory. Some studies suggest that ginkgo biloba may improve some aspects of mood, including alertness and calmness, in healthy subjects. By making you more alert and calm, it may increase your sense of energy.

Ginseng. This relatively safe and popular herb is said to reduce fatigue and enhance stamina and endurance. It is sometimes called an “adaptogen,” meaning it helps the body cope with mental and physical stress and can boost energy without causing a crash the way sugar does. Data from human studies are sparse and conflicting. Some studies report that ginseng improves mood, energy, and physical and intellectual performance. Other research concludes it doesn’t improve oxygen use or aerobic performance, or influence how quickly you bounce back after exercising.

Guarana. This herb induces a feeling of energy because it’s a natural source of caffeine. But consuming a lot of guarana, especially if you also drink coffee and other caffeinated beverages, could ultimately lower your energy by interfering with sleep.

Vitamin B12. Some doctors give injections of vitamin B12 as “energy boosters.” But unless they are given to correct anemia that results from a true deficiency of the vitamin, there is little evidence that vitamin B12 treatments boost energy.

Instead of relying on a supplement for energy, I recommend switching to a healthful diet—more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, lean protein, and unsaturated fats—and exercising more. That’s truly a better way to beat an energy shortage, and it’s one your whole body will appreciate.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/do-energy-boosters-work-201311156878/feed166878https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fdo-energy-boosters-work-201311156878]]>Biking to work linked to reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, and early deathhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/11813-2017061511813https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/bigstock-Energy-drink-and-coffee-beans-35229767.jpg2013-11-15 13:57:062013-11-15 18:57:06Men (back) at workhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/men-back-work-2017092012424https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/bigstock-Energy-drink-and-coffee-beans-35229767.jpg2013-11-15 13:57:062013-11-15 18:57:06Mindfulness apps: How well do they work?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/mindfulness-apps-how-well-do-they-work-2018110615306https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/bigstock-Energy-drink-and-coffee-beans-35229767.jpg2013-11-15 13:57:062013-11-15 18:57:06How to handle stress at workhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/how-to-handle-stress-at-work-2019041716436https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/bigstock-Energy-drink-and-coffee-beans-35229767.jpg2013-11-15 13:57:062013-11-15 18:57:06Brain-based devices: How well do they work?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/brain-based-devices-how-well-do-they-work-2019080117426https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/bigstock-Energy-drink-and-coffee-beans-35229767.jpg2013-11-15 13:57:062013-11-15 18:57:06https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/bigstock-Energy-drink-and-coffee-beans-35229767.jpgDaylight Saving Time “fall back” doesn’t equal sleep gainhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-doesnt-equal-sleep-gain-201311016836
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-doesnt-equal-sleep-gain-201311016836#commentsFri, 01 Nov 2013 18:53:45 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=6836Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2:00 am this Sunday. In theory, "falling back" means an extra hour of sleep this weekend. But it doesn't usually work out that way. Many people don't, or can't, take advantage of this weekend's extra hour of sleep. And the focus on gaining or losing an hour of sleep overlooks the bigger picture—the effect of Daylight Saving Time transitions on the sleep cycle. This seemingly small one-hour shift in the sleep cycle can affect sleep for up to a week. It's difficult to side-step the effects of Daylight Saving time on sleep. So be aware that it can take your sleep rhythms a week or so to get adjusted to the new clock.

Daylight Saving Time officially ends at 2:00 am on the first Sunday in November. In theory, “falling back” means an extra hour of sleep this weekend.

Winston Churchill once described Daylight Saving Time like this: “An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn… We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.”

That’s an overly optimistic view. In reality, many people don’t, or can’t, take advantage of this weekend’s extra hour of sleep. And the resulting shift in the body’s daily sleep-wake cycle can disrupt sleep for several days.

Research teams around the world have tried to determine if losing or gaining an hour of sleep because of Daylight Saving Time make a difference in health. Michigan researchers, writing in the American Journal of Cardiology, showed a small increase in heart attacks on the first day (Sunday) of the spring transition to Daylight Saving Time, when we “lose” an hour of sleep. This echoed a Swedish study published in the New England Journal of Medicineshowing a small increase in heart attacks after the start of Daylight Saving Time and a small decrease at its end.

Other researchers have looked at driving accidents, workplace safety, and even school performance, with mixed results.

Daylight Saving Time and sleep

The focus on gaining or losing an hour of sleep overlooks the bigger picture—the effect of Daylight Saving Time transitions on the sleep cycle. An excellent review in the journal Sleep Medicine Reviews by Dr. Yvonne Harrison, a senior lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University in England, concludes that a seemingly small one-hour shift in the sleep cycle can affect sleep for up to a week.

In the Fall, only a minority of people actually get that promised extra hour of sleep. During the following week, many people wake up earlier, have more trouble falling asleep, and are more likely to wake up during the night. People who tend to be so-called short sleepers, logging under 7.5 hours a night, and early risers (also known as larks), have the most trouble adjusting to the new schedule.

Similar problems are seen in the Spring. Again, the adjustment is harder for larks and short sleepers.

Springing back

Each of us experiences predictable physical, mental, and behavioral changes during the course of a day. These are called circadian rhythms. The daily cycle of light and dark keep them on a 24-hour cycle.

Sleep is a component of circadian rhythms. It is affected by outside influences, like light or Daylight Saving time. It can also affect the body’s other rhythms.

It’s difficult to side-step the effects of Daylight Saving time on sleep. My advice is to be aware that it can take your circadian and sleep rhythms a week or so to get adjusted to the new clock. Regular exercise, preferably at the same time each day, may help get your sleep cycle back on track. Going to bed and getting up on a schedule can help. And giving in to brief afternoon nap or two during the week may be a pleasant and relaxing way to restore lost sleep.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/daylight-saving-time-fall-back-doesnt-equal-sleep-gain-201311016836/feed26836https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fdaylight-saving-time-fall-back-doesnt-equal-sleep-gain-201311016836]]>Shopping for sunscreen: Are all brands equal?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/shopping-for-sunscreen-are-all-brands-equal-2017062611947https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/Clock-in-leaves_iStock_000005550253.jpg2013-11-01 14:53:452013-11-01 18:53:45Yes, you can avoid weight gain over the holidays!https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/yes-you-can-avoid-weight-gain-over-the-holidays-2019112518309https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/Clock-in-leaves_iStock_000005550253.jpg2013-11-01 14:53:452013-11-01 18:53:45In children and teens, depression doesn’t always look like sadnesshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/in-children-and-teens-depression-doesnt-always-look-like-sadness-2018031313472https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/Clock-in-leaves_iStock_000005550253.jpg2013-11-01 14:53:452013-11-01 18:53:45Intensive blood sugar control doesn’t have lasting cardiovascular benefits for those with diabeteshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/intensive-blood-sugar-control-doesnt-have-lasting-cardiovascular-benefits-for-those-with-diabetes-2019092317806https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/Clock-in-leaves_iStock_000005550253.jpg2013-11-01 14:53:452013-11-01 18:53:45When dieting doesn’t workhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/when-dieting-doesnt-work-2020052519889https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/Clock-in-leaves_iStock_000005550253.jpg2013-11-01 14:53:452013-11-01 18:53:45https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/11/Clock-in-leaves_iStock_000005550253.jpgHarvard Health and Orca Health launch heart-focused iBook serieshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-and-orca-health-launch-heart-focused-ibook-series-201310126747
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-and-orca-health-launch-heart-focused-ibook-series-201310126747#commentsSat, 12 Oct 2013 12:23:04 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=6747The ability of today's electronic books to display videos, images explained by a spoken voice, animations, interactive tools, and quizzes gives doctors new ways of explaining things. Harvard Health Publishing and Orca Health have created a series of ten interactive iBooks focused on heart disease. Currently, these are available only as iBooks. Need to know what happens in the heart when a heart attack is underway, how doctors open up cholesterol-clogged arteries, or how to cope with the irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation? The answers are in these iBooks. They let users view the heart in ways and detail they've never seen before to learn about common heart conditions and procedures.

The advent of electronic publishing, and of tablets and e-readers, has some obvious advantages. Publications can be downloaded instantly, wherever you are—no need to make a trip to the bookstore. A huge number of publications can be stored in a very small and light device—no more vacations lugging four to five heavy books with you. In fact, you can take your whole library with you, just like you can take your whole music collection. To me, that’s a miracle as great as penicillin.

Some e-readers, however, have additional advantages: they can display more than just print and still images. With such e-readers, a “book” today can include videos, images explained by a spoken voice, animations, interactive tools and quizzes.

That additional capability gives doctors new ways of explaining things in a “book”. I and colleagues from Harvard Health Publishing, along with Orca Health in Salt Lake City, have created a series of ten interactive iBooks focused on heart disease. Currently, the iBooks are available just for the Apple iPad via iBooks or on a computer via iTunes. Use the keyword “Orca Health” to find them.

Need to know what happens in the heart when a heart attack is underway, how doctors open up cholesterol-clogged arteries, or how to cope with the irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation? The answers are in these iBooks. They let users view the heart in ways and detail they’ve never seen before to learn about these common heart conditions and procedures:

Angina

Cardiac Catheterization

Angioplasty

Heart Attack

Atherosclerosis

Heart Failure

Atrial Fibrillation

Mitral Valve Prolapse

Bypass Surgery

Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Each book contains stunning interactive 3D animations powered by Orca Health, videos that I had the honor of narrating, and content from Harvard Medical School. An example of one of the videos is below. It describes how a cholesterol-clogged artery is opened with a procedure called angioplasty and stent placement

I am proud of these new books, and believe they set a new standard for patient education, in the United States and around the world. Let me know what you think.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-and-orca-health-launch-heart-focused-ibook-series-201310126747/feed46747https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fharvard-health-and-orca-health-launch-heart-focused-ibook-series-201310126747]]>Get SMART about your goals to stay focused and on track at any agehttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/get-smart-about-your-goals-this-strategy-can-help-you-stay-focused-and-on-track-at-any-age-2017090112113https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/10/Angina-Cover.jpg2013-10-12 08:23:042013-10-12 12:23:04The best place to launch a healthy lifestyle? Your kitchenhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/best-place-launch-healthy-lifestyle-kitchen-2017080312128https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/10/Angina-Cover.jpg2013-10-12 08:23:042013-10-12 12:23:04Harvard Health Ad Watch: When marketing puts your health at riskhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-when-marketing-puts-your-health-at-risk-2020010818633https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/10/Angina-Cover.jpg2013-10-12 08:23:042013-10-12 12:23:04Harvard Health Ad Watch: A fibromyalgia treatment (“But you look so good!”)https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-a-fibromyalgia-treatment-but-you-look-so-good-2019112218358https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/10/Angina-Cover.jpg2013-10-12 08:23:042013-10-12 12:23:04Harvard Health Ad Watch: What you should know about direct-to-consumer adshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/harvard-health-ad-watch-what-you-should-know-about-direct-to-consumer-ads-2019092017848https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/10/Angina-Cover.jpg2013-10-12 08:23:042013-10-12 12:23:04https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/10/Angina-Cover.jpgDiscovery could someday help people with diabetes make more insulinhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/discovery-could-someday-help-people-with-diabetes-make-more-insulin-2-201305246313
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/discovery-could-someday-help-people-with-diabetes-make-more-insulin-2-201305246313#commentsFri, 24 May 2013 19:11:21 +0000http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/?p=6313A lot is known about diabetes. But a discovery that could change how this disease is treated shows just how much more there is to learn. A team of Harvard Medical School researchers has discovered a hormone called betatrophin made by liver and fat cells that signals the body to make more insulin-producing beta cells. A report of their work appears in this month's issue of the prestigious scientific journal Cell. In mice with diabetes, experimentally turning on the production of betatrophin inside liver and fat cells caused an increase in beta cells and a dramatic improvement in blood sugar. It will, of course, take much more research in mice—and then in humans—to determine if this newly discovered hormone can serve as a treatment for diabetes. So it's too soon to get excited that the discovery of betatrophin will translate directly into a new treatment for diabetes. But it is another example of the human body's power to naturally repair itself.

For the team’s leader, Dr. Douglas Melton, research on the subject of diabetes is personal as well as professional. In 1993, his six-month-old son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Since then Melton, who is co-director of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, has turned his considerable research skills to learning how diabetes happens and how it might be cured.

Turning on beta cells

In type 1 diabetes, the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas, a spongy little organ that sits below the stomach. The attack destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, called beta cells. Without enough insulin, muscle cells can’t absorb sugar from the bloodstream. Sugar levels rise in the blood, causing havoc throughout the body. Untreated type 1 diabetes can be deadly. Even with treatment, usually daily injections of insulin, type 1 diabetes often leads to heart disease, vision problems, and nerve problems.

In the more common type 2 diabetes, the muscles resist that action of insulin, causing blood sugar to rise. As the pancreas churns out more and more insulin, the beta cells can eventually become burned out.

Over the years, Melton and his colleagues made a surprising discovery: the pancreas could make new beta cells, even in people with type 1 diabetes. “Old” pancreas cells can divide, forming young ones. Unfortunately, the pancreas isn’t naturally able to make enough new beta cells to make up for those killed by diabetes.

Melton and colleagues reasoned that there might be some chemical signal that prompts beta cells to divide and increase. The Cell paper details their search for and discovery of such a signal in mice. It’s a hormone the team called betatrophin. This hormone, made by liver and fat cells, travels through the blood to the pancreas. There, it prompts existing beta cells to grow and divide, making new beta cells.

In mice with diabetes, turning on the production of betatrophin by liver and fat cells caused an increase in beta cells and a dramatic improvement in blood sugar.

More to be done

It will, of course, take much more research in mice—and then in humans—to determine if this newly discovered hormone can serve as a treatment for diabetes. So it’s too soon to get excited that the discovery of betatrophin will translate directly into a new treatment for diabetes.

This work is just the latest example of an even larger scientific discovery that has played out over the past two decades. We are learning that the human body has much greater power to naturally repair itself than we once imagined. Scientists all over the world are working to discover ways to stimulate the body’s own natural healing mechanisms, as Dr. Melton and colleagues are doing.

In the United States, this work and other important investigations are threatened by the “sequester,” which is cutting funding for medical research. It would be a shame for an important discovery like Melton’s to languish because of political infighting. Regardless of what you think about federal spending in general, if you share my view that we should not be cutting funding for health research and public health, you could do what I have done. Write your representatives in Congress to restore cuts in medical research.

]]>https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/discovery-could-someday-help-people-with-diabetes-make-more-insulin-2-201305246313/feed66313https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.health.harvard.edu%2Fblog%2Fdiscovery-could-someday-help-people-with-diabetes-make-more-insulin-2-201305246313]]>Human insulin may be a lower-cost option for some people with diabeteshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/human-insulin-may-be-a-lower-cost-option-for-some-people-with-diabetes-2019060316747https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/05/Insulin-shot.jpg2013-05-24 15:11:212013-05-24 19:11:21New blood test may someday help guide the best treatment for aggressive prostate cancerhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/new-blood-test-may-someday-help-guide-the-best-treatment-for-aggressive-prostate-cancer-2018080114392https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/05/Insulin-shot.jpg2013-05-24 15:11:212013-05-24 19:11:21Safe and effective use of insulin requires proper storagehttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/safe-and-effective-use-of-insulin-requires-proper-storage-2018120415486https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/05/Insulin-shot.jpg2013-05-24 15:11:212013-05-24 19:11:21Can an online game really improve blood sugar control for people with diabetes?https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-an-online-game-really-improve-blood-sugar-control-for-people-with-diabetes-2017120412843https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/05/Insulin-shot.jpg2013-05-24 15:11:212013-05-24 19:11:21Weight-loss surgery may lower risk of heart disease in people with diabeteshttps://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/weight-loss-surgery-may-lower-risk-of-heart-disease-in-people-with-diabetes-2020041619472https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/05/Insulin-shot.jpg2013-05-24 15:11:212013-05-24 19:11:21https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2013/05/Insulin-shot.jpg